Vincent van Gogh was fascinated by mills - especially the water mills of Brabant. In the surroundings of Nuenen he found inspiration for his art. Today there are still many beautiful examples, to be discovered along walking and cycling routes. Through the project Watermill Landscapes in the Van Gogh Nationaal Park this living heritage is cherished and breathed new life into.
North of Nuenen, in the open countryside, you will find the mill named after the area in which it stands. The mill is still used for grinding grain and is thus a "living" monument, well worth a visit! This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
This water mill can be found between Nuenen and Eindhoven. Van Gogh lived in Nuenen and regularly passed this largest water wheel in the Netherlands, which made the water mill a favorite drawing and painting object of this painter. This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
Vincent worked on several paintings of windmills in May 1884. For example, he painted the Collse watermill that he passed as he walked from Nuenen to Eindhoven. This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
During his stay in Nuenen, Vincent regularly went out into the surrounding area. It has been established that in August 1885 he depicted the mill De Vogelenzang in Lieshout twice as a black-and-white drawing with sheaves of wheat in the foreground. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
The mill is private property, is not open for viewing and is not in operation. But of course you can go and look at it and enjoy this old mill and the authentic Brabant nature.
Vincent recorded this mill several times, such as in November 1884. He is said to have met Anton Kerssemakers at the mill. The two became good friends and Vincent gave him painting lessons. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
This six-meter-high mural by Bossche artist Eric van Boxtel zooms in on Van Gogh's social environment. "The mural shows Vincent van Gogh as an energetic artist and passionate human being with around him a representation of people who were close to him," Eric says.
This work comes from graffiti artist Erik Veldmeijer. The Sunflower Girl, a five-by-six-meter mural, can now be seen on the Ringbaan Noord in Tilburg. "The story behind the Van Gogh painting is inspired by Van Gogh's sunflowers. It is a Sunflower Girl with a watering can watering herself, symbolizing the cycle of life," Erik said.
This 130-meter-long mural, created by Joren Joshua, is an ode to the "forgotten brother of Vincent van Gogh" and the Breda Backer & Rueb machine factory. The painting features a man with bright orange hair; this is Cornelius (Cor) van Gogh, Vincent van Gogh's younger brother. Like Vincent, Cor had an eventful life.
In Eindhoven, Julien Crevaels was inspired by the rural environment where Van Gogh lived, the typical landscape that also appears in his paintings, pollard willows, farms and meadows. The artwork can be seen in a tunnel that is the underpass of one of the old roads between Nuenen and Eindhoven where Van Gogh often walked from his parental home to the train station.
Artist Ilse Weisfelt was inspired by the workers in Van Gogh's paintings. The four pillars elaborate on this theme in a contemporary form. The pillars can be viewed separately, but are also connected. One side always shows the "worker," the other side is a variation on the Brabant landscape - the little church that Van Gogh often painted, wooden logs and fields.
Van Gogh Europe connects all the sites in the Netherlands, Belgium and France that played a role in Vincent's life. Together they tell the complete story of his journey as an artist - from his birth in Brabant to his final years in France. A collaboration that keeps Van Gogh's European legacy alive.
In Drenthe, Vincent van Gogh found the tranquility and landscape that further shaped his artistry. Between heathland, farms and dirt roads, he captured the harsh existence of the rural population. Van Gogh Drenthe lets you relive his time in this inspiring province - where his quest for light and color began.
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The Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo houses one of the largest Van Gogh collections in the world, surrounded by the nature of National Park De Hoge Veluwe. The combination of art and landscape reflects Van Gogh's deep bond with nature. A unique experience of silence, color and emotion.
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The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh in the world. Here you will discover his development as an artist, his letters and his influence on generations after him. An indispensable place to experience the depth of Van Gogh's life and art.
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Delve into the world of Vincent van Gogh through his letters. In hundreds of letters to his brother Theo, family and friends, he shares his thoughts on art, life and nature. They form an intimate portrait of the man behind the artist - full of passion, doubt and inspiration.
Read his letters
